Capital New York

Steve F. commented on Hopes for a fast train to the Rockaways are raised, then dashed again

A rail line will take forever to build - or at least as long as the 2nd Ave Subway. So install the bicycle - pedestrian greenway now to make use of the full right of way. This will prevent further decay of the ROW and prevent further encroachment onto the ROW. It is highly probable that there is room for Rail With Trail on this line, sharing the space between both a trail and an active rail line on the ROW. Much of the ROW carries space for 4 tracks, but even where there are two tracks, there is space to install a pathway to the side of the tracks along with a strong wall/fence. So a trail built now might not have to be abandoned later if the rail service is installed. Even though the HighLine is invoked as an example, a trail on the Rockaway Line will not involve the intense renovation and reconstruction costs spent of the HighLine. The project can be completed at a much lower cost per mile. Enough studies, time for action.

Posted on June 6th, 2012 7:46pm

Steve F. commented on Former P.A. head Chris Ward on the withering of New York transit and the bad politics of infrastructure funding

The Good News: The NYC Infrastructure is built to last 100 years. The Bad News - One: The hundred years are up. The Bad News - Two: If you don't perform regular scheduled capital maintenance on that infrastructure, it will fail in only 20 or 30 years. The MTA alone needs to spend over 2 Billion Dollars every year in heavy capital projects to maintain the existing system in a State Of Good Repair (SOGR). If you cut back on these projects, you get Bad News Two, and trains start falling on the ground. If you fund these annual ongoing capital maintenance projects with bond issues, you are paying with a credit card. Interest compounds, and after a few years there is no money left for the work, only the interest. This is like taking out a mortgage to pay for this winter's heating oil. Bad idea. The only winner here is the banks. New projects, like 2nd Ave Subway, are properly funded with bond issues - big costs incurred at one time, to last some years before SOGR expenses are needed. The Region's infrastructure needs constant annual funding, every year, and not from bond sales, to maintain a State of Good Repair.

Posted on February 2nd, 2012 1:16pm